New International Consumer Protection Website Launch

To celebrate World Consumer Rights Day on Monday, the International Consumer Protection Enforcement Network (ICPEN) launched a website to deliver better consumer protection world-wide, providing shoppers with essential information to avoid scams, shop safely online, and how to lodge a complaint for cross-border disputes.

"As more consumers participate in global markets there is a strong and growing need for effective cross-border consumer protection," ICPEN president and Australian Competition and Consumer Commission deputy chair Peter Kell said.

ICPEN is a cooperative forum of consumer protection authorities that encourages global cooperation aimed at combating fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair trading practices that affect consumers around the world. ICPEN's global reach - with members from more than 40 economies, means it is well situated to target the cross-border issues faced by today's consumers.

"The new user-friendly site, www.icpen.org, will help ICPEN members deliver better protection to consumers, and it features sections tailored to the needs of consumers, consumer protection professionals and enforcement authority members."

Providing consumers with essential information including how to avoid scams and shop safely online, there are also tips on where to look for help, and how to lodge a complaint in cross-border disputes. For example, consumers who believe they have been a victim of deceptive practices on the Internet can register their complaint at www.econsumer.gov, ICPEN's global online complaint mechanism which is available in seven languages.

"We recognise on World Consumer Rights Day that more consumers are engaging in e-commerce and online shopping, and they encounter many cross-border issues along the way. The ICPEN website provides quick and easy access to information including where they can go for help if something goes wrong," Mr Kell said.

For consumer protection authorities the website will assist in the detection, identification and response to illegal conduct affecting consumers across borders," he said.

For additional information visit the website:
International Consumer Protection Enforcement Network - http://www.icpen.org/